Mrs. Susan J. Wolf Ratyna, 65, of Andover, died after a valiant struggle with cancer at Lawrence General Hospital on Monday, May 2, 2016.
She was born a twin, just minutes after her brother, Thomas, in Boston, on March 3, 1951, to Nicholas and Phyllis (Ciaramitaro) Wolf.
She was educated in the Boston public schools and attended Northeastern College with a degree in criminal law. She worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice, in Boston, for 35 years. The last 7 of those years serving as Administrative Officer of the Boston Office, before retiring in 2007.
Never a dull moment in her life, while simultaneously employed by the FBI, she served in several military intelligence units in her 20-year career in the U.S. Army Reserves. She was a senior intelligence analyst with the 372nd Military Intelligence Company in Devens. She also traveled to Europe to support Operation Joint Guard and the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Susan retired as Master Sergeant (E8) First Class in 2011.
In addition to her illustrious career, she was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Andover Board of Selectmen 2010. She also belonged to Andover Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Andover Patriotic Committee. She had a passion for tennis. In her retirement years, she enjoyed playing in numerous leagues. She contributed her knowledge of the sport by volunteering as a USTA official, and also working at the Tennis Desk at Cedardale Health and Fitness in Haverhill. She was an avid movie collector, had a thirst for fashion, gourmet food, fine wine and good company. She was incredibly loyal to her country and always knew how to make her family and friends feel special. It is said, "she always did the right thing."
Susan is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Edward A. Ratyna; her stepchildren Edward “Ted” A. Ratyna Jr., of Andover, MA and Robin Sterling and husband David of Coventry, RI; her mother Phyllis Wolf of Rockledge, Fl; sister, Lynda Wolf of Rockledge Fl, Jeanette Manning-Tynan and husband Robert of Springfield, MA; twin brother Thomas Wolf and wife Patricia of Tewksbury, MA; niece Jodi-Lyn Manning of Springfield, MA; niece Alexa White of Hill, NH; Aunts, Anna Geeza, Irene Wolfe and Helen Wolf of PA and a myriad of other family members and close friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Nicholas Wolf and nephew Jonathan Nicholas Wolf.
Visiting hours will be held at Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home on Sunday May 8, from 2-4 and 7-9 at 390 North Main St., Andover, MA 01810. A service will be held on Monday, May 9, at 10AM at St. Augustine Church at 43 Essex St., Andover, MA 01810.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Susan’s name to the Jonathan Wolf Memorial Scholarship Fund, Rivier University, 420 S. Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060-5086; a fund near and dear to her heart which was set up after the passing of her nephew, nearly 8 years ago. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.